Author: matthewephotography@yahoo.com
Image credit: Mother’s Touch Studios If you’ve been reading my reviews lately, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been catching up on the indie comic book series Otherkin. Steeped in magical realism and urban fantasy, Otherkin tells the story of Alex, a shapeshifter who faces a major threat to his existence and unwittingly draws a human librarian named Law into the dangerous battle. With a decompressed style that lets readers soak up visual cues from Mike Mignola-esque art, Otherkin has been a breath of fresh air so far. Its fascinating and unpredictable plot really keeps readers on their toes. Image credit:…
Image credit: IDW The political situation looks dire. Despite many years of preparation, the Conference of Babel collapsed. Things seem completely hopeless, but Starfleet has one last ace. It’s the resurrected Captain James T. Kirk. Will the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or even just one? I don’t entirely agree with the decision to bring Kirk into this series, but his willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good without giving anything else here ultimately justifies his presence to some extent. The way it unfolds is also very interesting and sets up the third story…
Image credit: IDW It’s not quite that season, but the first issue of the four-part miniseries Star Trek: Holo Vienna has been in my collection for a while and I just couldn’t get around to reading it. The time has finally come! The crew of the Enterprise are all somewhat depressed after traveling through a dangerous solar storm. Ship counselor Deanna Troi senses the mood on board, and to lift the spirits of the crew, Captain Picard agrees to a Halloween celebration. However, the ship seems to have picked up something and soon the crew goes missing. Strange things are…
Image credit: Jason Brown, midlifegamergeek.com After his last victory, X is looking for Mavericks at the weapons factory. What he discovered there was both surprising and potentially deadly. These comics are so much fun. I know I say it all the time, but it’s worth repeating. While these aren’t the deepest stories, there’s something about Udon’s comics that makes them feel different, and these Mega Man titles are no exception. With gorgeous artwork, great references to video games (including a photo variation cover that pays homage to the Mega Man X SNES game), and near-nonstop action, it feels like a…
Image credit: IDW When her dark secret is revealed, Sam is forced into a corner and will stop at nothing to escape justice for his horrific crimes. Still, she can’t resist eliminating more of the town’s residents. If she can escape, maybe even the whole town… As expected, this second series finale is a real blast, with everything unfolding at a breakneck pace. Everything that was slow-burning for the first five issues (or at least four issues, considering how quickly things escalated in the last issue) really pays off here, with some truly shocking events occurring in multiple locations in…
Image credit: IDW Samantha has been manipulating poor Monica for the past few issues, apparently trying to deflect blame from her own years of murderous behavior. Even though everything was carefully planned, the breadcrumbs eventually lead back to Sam. So how will Monica react? And will she be able to escape when such a methodical and unscrupulous psychopath is so close to her? Meanwhile, the aftermath of Sam’s long-running secret horror continues to affect the town of Woodbrook in more ways than one. How will they react when they learn that instead of there being a second serial killer in…
Image credit: IDW Sam’s twisted game continues as he uses clues about his brother’s death to lure Monica out. Here, she implicates fellow serial killer Nigel in Duck’s death eight years ago, and soon more innocent people are drawn into Sam’s web of deception and manipulation… There’s something incredibly convincing about Sam’s immoral games and the satisfaction she derives from pushing poor Monica to her limits. The impact of Sam’s past and present actions on other members of the community is equally fascinating, with the old turtle Bertie being a particular highlight. The deep trauma felt throughout the town and…
Image credit: IDW The crew of the starship Godzilla rebelled against the Xyrians in an attempt to save innocent mine colonists. As the crew fights for their lives and the health of the monster ship (a reconstructed Mechagodzilla), Ayan attempts a daring rescue to deal with unfinished business in his heart. I’m really enjoying this series. This is a very Guardians of the Galaxy -style twist on IDW’s shared Godzilla continuity, aka the Kai-sei era future. Although most of the crew are not particularly likable, Ayan is a charming, endearing and sympathetic protagonist throughout, and most of the betrayals within…
Image credit: IDW Ujigami, as we and the turtles know, is Master Splinter and is after Casey Jones. Splinter/Guardian is determined to protect his family, and Jones seems destined to kill Rafael. However, the turtles cannot let their father kill their old friend, and there are many conflicts and revelations. There’s a little too much going on in this issue, with several situations starting at the same time and numerous characters getting involved with Ujigami in some way. While it seems like there are too many balls to juggle in this slightly overstuffed comic (the blurb seems to reveal something…
Image credit: IDW Sam begins to understand how the world’s technological advancements and the way information is shared are putting her “activities” at risk. But this is also an opportunity to give her a clue about the duck sister she killed years ago. New kicks with new tricks. Meanwhile, in Woodbrook, Bertie, a septuagenarian tortoise, is unable to help wild animals wander into his peaceful town of anthropomorphic creatures, and as he grows older he becomes somewhat agrophobic. There are a lot of gears turning, but there’s a more deliberate pace to this second issue. Sam’s Dangerous Game is a…